Self adjusting furniture stabilising device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a self adjusting furniture stabilising device ( 10 ), connectable to the bottom surface of a foot ( 12 ) of a table ( 14 ). The device ( 10 ) comprises a first body ( 16 ), connectable to the foot ( 12 ) and a second body ( 18 ) for resting on a surface ( 20 ). The first body ( 16 ) includes first ramp formations ( 22 ), having a plurality of first engaging surfaces ( 24 ) and the second body ( 18 ) includes second ramp formations ( 26 ), having a plurality of complementary second engaging surfaces ( 28 ). The first and second bodies ( 16  and  18 ) are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces ( 24  and  28 ) engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body ( 18 ) relative to the first body ( 16 ), so that the stabilising device ( 10 ) self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the table ( 14 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a self-adjusting furniture stabilising device. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a self-adjusting stabilising device for being located underneath a foot of a piece of furniture, such as a table, in order to stabilise said piece of furniture.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It often happens that furniture, particularly a table, having more than three feet, contacting the floor is unstable and tends to rock back and forth. In an attempt to overcome the instability problem, a variety of different articles, such as pieces of paper, matchboxes, pieces of wood or even sugar packets, have been located underneath the short leg of the table.

Different types of adjustable furniture supports have also been proposed, to be located underneath the table legs. Probably the best know example of the adjustable furniture support, is a manually adjustable threaded foot, which is adapted to screw into the feet of the table. These feet are thus manually screwed into and out of the foot, in an attempt to level the table and overcome the rocking. However, this solution is generally not successful. Further, where the table was frequently moved on an uneven floor, the manually adjustable supports were unsatisfactory because of the frequent need for adjustment.

Self-adjusting furniture supports have also been disclosed in the past. However, these were generally relatively expensive to manufacture, were often fragile and susceptible to damage, and in many cases did not function satisfactorily.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a self-adjusting furniture stabilising device with which the aforesaid disadvantages could be at least partially overcome or minimised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a self adjusting furniture stabilising device for a piece of furniture comprising:

-   -   a first body being connectable to a foot of the piece of         furniture, which first body includes a first ramp formation         having a plurality of first engaging surfaces; and     -   a second body for resting on a surface on which the furniture is         positioned, which second body includes a second ramp formation         having a plurality of second engaging surfaces being         complementary to the first engaging surfaces,     -   the arrangement being such that the first and second bodies are         coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second         engaging surfaces engaging one another to permit rotational         movement of the second body relative to the first body, so that         the stabilising device self-adjusts in the event of a rotational         force applied thereto in order to stabilise the piece of         furniture.

The first body may be an operatively upper body and the second body may be an operatively lower body.

The first body may include an end wall portion and a tubular skirt portion extending from a rim of the end wall portion, with the first ramp formation extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.

The first body may include two first ramp formations, both extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.

The second body may include a base portion with the second ramp formation extending from a rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the downwardly facing first ramp formation.

The second body may include two second ramp formations, both extending from the rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the two downwardly facing first ramp formations.

The plurality of first and second engaging surfaces may be separate from one another and distributed at substantially equal intervals on both of the first and second ramp formations respectively.

The base portion of the second body may be tapered and thus wedge-shaped, the arrangement being such that the base portion only partially rests on the surface on which the furniture is positioned, so that in use, rotational stress is applied to the piece of furniture so that the contact point of the base portion frictionally engages the surface, thus resulting in rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.

The device may include biasing means located between the first and second bodies.

The biasing means may be a torsion spring and may have a first end connected to the first body and a second end connected to the second body.

The torsion spring may be in a compressed state between the first and second bodies, so that they are biased away from one another.

The torsion spring may be mounted in coaxial relationship with the first and second ramp formations in the compressed and torsioned state between the end wall portion of the first body and the base portion of the second body.

The device may include connecting means for connecting the device to the foot of the piece of furniture.

The connecting means may be a screw or any other similar connector, having a shaft with thread and which extends in an operatively vertical direction.

The first body may include a first receiving formation for receiving the connecting means and the second body may include a second receiving formation for receiving the first receiving formation and the connecting means, the arrangement being such that the connecting means may pass through the second receiving formation of the second body, through the centre of the biasing means and through the first receiving formation of the first body, so that the first body, biasing means and second body are all coupled to one another and so that the thread of the connecting means extends beyond the first body for allowing it to be connected to the foot of the piece of furniture.

A stepped washer may be provided to be located between the first body and the foot of the piece of furniture, so that the first body is not rotationally movable relative to the foot of the piece of furniture.

The first body may be fixed to the foot of the piece of furniture and the second body may be rotationally movable relative to the first body and the foot of the piece of furniture.

The first and second engaging surfaces of the first and second ramp formations may be relatively planar surfaces arranged at different levels to one another, so that the first and second ramp formations are stepped ramps, the arrangement being so that the plurality of first engaging surfaces rest on the plurality of second engaging surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described further by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table including a self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the table and self adjusting furniture stabilising device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the device connected to a foot of the table;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view from above of the device;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view from below of the device; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective side view of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

The self adjusting furniture stabilising device 10 is adapted to be connected to the bottom surface of a foot 12 of a piece of furniture, such as a table 14. It is foreseen that the device 10 is connectable to any piece of furniture which needs to be stabilised. The device 10 could be provided on all the feet 12 of the table 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it is foreseen that a single device 10 provided on a single foot 12 of the table 14 would be sufficient to stabilise the table on most uneven surfaces.

The self adjusting furniture stabilising device 10 comprises a first body 16, which is connectable to the foot 12 of the table 14 and a second body 18 for resting on a surface 20 on which the table 14 is positioned. The first body 16 includes two first ramp formations 22, each having a plurality of first engaging surfaces 24 and the second body 18 includes two second ramp formations 26, each having a plurality of complementary second engaging surfaces 28. The arrangement is such that the first and second bodies 16 and 18 are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body 18 relative to the first body 16, so that the stabilising device 10 self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the table 14.

The first body 16 is an operatively upper body and the second body 18 is an operatively lower body. The first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 of the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 are relatively planar surfaces arranged at different levels to one another, so that the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 are stepped ramps, the arrangement being so that the plurality of first engaging surfaces 24 rest on the plurality of second engaging surfaces 28.

The first body 16 includes an end wall portion 30 and a tubular skirt portion 32 extending from a rim 34 of the end wall portion 30, with the stepped first ramp formations 22 extending from the end wall portion 30 inside the tubular skirt portion 32 and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction. The first body 16 further includes a first receiving formation 35 extending from the end wall portion 30 inside and concentrically with the stepped first ramp formations 22.

The second body 18 include a base portion 42 with the stepped second ramp formations 26 extending from a rim 44 of the base portion 42 in an upwardly facing direction to engage the downwardly facing first ramp formation 22. The second body 18 further includes a second receiving formation 45 also extending from the base portion 42 in an upwardly facing direction inside and concentrically with the stepped second ramp formations 26.

The first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 are separate from one another and distributed at substantially equal intervals on the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 respectively. The plurality of first engaging surfaces 24 therefore rest on and engage the plurality of complementary second engaging surfaces 28.

The base portion 42 of the second body 18 is tapered and thus wedge-shaped, as can be seen in FIG. 6. The arrangement is such that the base portion 42 only partially rests on the surface on which the furniture is positioned, so that in use, rotational or torsional stress is applied to the piece of furniture so that the contact point of the base portion 42 frictionally engages the surface, thus resulting in rotational movement of the second body 42 relative to the first body 32 in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.

The device 10 further includes a biasing means, in the form of a torsion spring 46, for coupling the first and second bodies 16 and 18 to one another. The torsion spring has a first end 48 connected to the first body 16 and a second end 50 connected to the second body 18. The torsion spring 46 is mounted in coaxial relationship with the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 in a compressed and torsioned state between the end wall portion 30 of the first body 16 and the base portion 42 of the second body 18. The first and second ends 48 and 50 are received by blind holes (not shown) defined in the first and second bodies 16 and 18.

The device 10 further includes connecting means 36 for connecting to the foot 12 of the table 14. The connecting means 36 is generally an 8 mm round Alan-head screw, but it is foreseen that any suitable connecting means could be used. The connecting means 36 extends in an operatively vertical direction and includes a shaft 38 with thread 32 which screws into the foot 12 of the table 14. The arrangement is such that the connecting means 36 passes from below, through the second receiving formation 45 of the second body 18, through the centre of the torsion spring 46 and through the first receiving formation 35 of the first body 16, so that the first body 16, biasing means 46 and second body 18 are all coupled to one another and so that the thread of the connecting means 36 extends beyond the first body 16 for allowing it to be connected to the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14. The first body 16 is thus fixed to the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14 and the second body 18 is rotationally movable relative to the first body 16 and the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14. A stepped washer 52 could also be provided and located between the first body 32 and the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14, so that the first body 32 is not rotationally movable relative to the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14.

In use, the device 10 is connected to at least one foot 12 of the table 14 by being screwed into the bottom of said foot 12. Any rotational force acting on the device 10 results in the device 10 frictionally engaging the surface 20 at the point of contact, so that the second body 18 rotationally moves relative to the first body 16, so that they move towards and away from one another to permit the second body 18 to retract into and out of the first body 16. The rotational movement of the two second body 18 causes the first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 to move rotationally relative to one another so that the height of the foot 12 of the table 14 relative to the surface 20 is adjusted.

It is foreseen that the device 10 is relative more effective in stabilising a piece of furniture than prior art devices, owing to the separate engaging surfaces 24 and 28 of the ramp formations 22 and 26, as well as the fact that the device 10 only rests partially on the surface 20. A normal direct downward force, for example, a downwards weight from a user resting on the table, acting on the device 10 from the table 14 would not result in movement of the two bodies 16 and 18 relative to one another, since the engaging surfaces 24 and 28 rest on one another, unless a rotational force is applied thereto.

It will be appreciated that variations in detail are possible with a self-adjusting furniture stabilising device according to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device for a piece of furniture comprising a first body being connectable to a foot of the piece of furniture, which first body includes a first ramp formation having a plurality of first engaging surfaces; and a second body for resting on a surface on which the furniture is positioned, which second body includes a second ramp formation having a plurality of second engaging surfaces being complementary to the first engaging surfaces, the arrangement being such that the first and second bodies are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body, so that the stabilising device self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.
 2. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1 wherein the first body is an operatively upper body and the second body is an operatively lower body.
 3. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1, wherein the first body includes an end wall portion and a tubular skirt portion extending from a rim of the end wall portion, with the first ramp formation extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.
 4. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 3 wherein the first body includes two first ramp formations, both extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.
 5. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 3 wherein the second body includes a base portion with the second ramp formation extending from a rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the downwardly facing first ramp formation.
 6. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 5 wherein the second body includes two second ramp formations, both extending from the rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the two downwardly facing first ramp formations.
 7. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces are separate from one another and distributed at substantially equal intervals on the first and second ramp formations respectively.
 8. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 5 wherein the base portion of the second body is tapered and thus wedge-shaped, the arrangement being such that the base portion only partially rests on the surface on which the furniture is positioned, so that in use, rotational stress is applied to the piece of furniture so that the contact point of the base portion frictionally engages the surface, thus resulting in rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.
 9. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1 which includes a biasing means located between the first and second bodies.
 10. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 9 wherein the biasing means is a torsion spring, which has a first end connected to the first body and a second end connected to the second body.
 11. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 10 wherein the torsion spring is in a compressed and torsioned state between the first and second bodies, so that they are biased away from one another.
 12. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 11 wherein the torsion spring is mounted in coaxial relationship with the first and second ramp formations in the compressed state between the end wall portion of the first body and the base portion of the second body.
 13. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1, which includes connecting means for connecting the device to the foot of the piece of furniture.
 14. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 13 wherein the connecting means is a screw or any other similar connector, having a shaft including thread and which extends in an operatively vertical direction.
 15. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 14 wherein the first body includes a first receiving formation for receiving the connecting means and the second body includes a second receiving formation for receiving the first receiving formation and the connecting means, the arrangement being such that the connecting means passes through the second receiving formation of the second body, through the centre of the biasing means and through the first receiving formation of the first body, so that the first body, biasing means and second body are all coupled to one another and so that the thread of the connecting means extends beyond the first body for allowing it to be connected to the foot of the piece of furniture.
 16. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1 wherein a stepped washer is provided to be located between the first body and the piece of furniture, so that the first body is not rotationally movable relative to the foot of the piece of furniture.
 17. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1 wherein the first body is fixed to the foot of the piece of furniture and the second body is rotationally movable relative to the first body and the foot of the piece of furniture.
 18. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second engaging surfaces of the first and second ramp formations are relatively planar surfaces arranged at different levels to one another, so that the first and second ramp formations are stepped ramps, the arrangement being so that the plurality of first engaging surfaces rest on the plurality of second engaging surfaces.
 19. A self adjusting furniture stabilising device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 